Impatiens plant named &#39;Balbonicher&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Impatiens  plant named ‘Balbonicher’, characterized by its double-type, medium red-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, compact-mounded growth habit, is disclosed.

LATIN NAME OF GENUS AND SPECIES OF PLANT CLAIMED

Impatiens walleriana

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Balbonicher’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofImpatiens plant botanically known as Impatiens walleriana andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balbonicher’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program inBellefonte, Pa. during April 2009. The objective of the breeding programwas the development of Impatiens cultivars with fully double-type, largeflowers, and with a compact-mounded growth habit.

The new Impatiens cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. Thefemale (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Impatienswalleriana breeding selection coded 5446c-1, not patented, characterizedby its semi-double type, light red-colored flowers, medium green-coloredfoliage, and moderately vigorous, mounded growth habit. The male(pollen) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Impatienswalleriana breeding selection coded 5418-2, not patented, characterizedby its double-type, dark red-colored flowers, medium green-coloredfoliage, and moderately vigorous, spreading growth habit. The newcultivar was discovered and selected as an individual flowering plantwithin the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during March2010 in a controlled environment in Bellefonte, Pa.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings sinceMarch 2010 in Bellefonte, Pa.; Arroyo Grande, Calif.; and West Chicago,Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type withall of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed andretained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘Balbonicher’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Impatiens plant:

1. Double-type, medium red-colored flowers;

2. Dark green-colored foliage; and

3. Moderately vigorous, compact-mounded growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parentprimarily in flower form and flower color shade. Plants of the newcultivar differ from plants of the male parent primarily in growthhabit. In addition, plants of the new cultivar have darker green-coloredfoliage than both the female and male parents.

Of the many commercially available Impatiens cultivars, the most similarin comparison to the new cultivar is Fiesta Ole Cherry ‘Balolecher’,U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,668. However, in side by side comparisons, plantsof the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Balolecher’ in at least thefollowing characteristics:

1. Plants of the new cultivar have a flower color different from plantsof ‘Balolecher’;

2. Plants of the new cultivar have larger flowers, as measured by widthand depth, than plants of ‘Balolecher’; and

3. Plants of the new cultivar have larger leaves, as measured by lengthand width, than plants of ‘Balolecher’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed description, which accurately describes the colors of‘Balbonicher’. The plants were grown in 4-inch pots for 6 weeks in agreenhouse in West Chicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘Balbonicher’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of‘Balbonicher’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2007 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined in November 2014 undernatural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants producedfrom cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouseunder conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. Theplants were grown in West Chicago, Ill. in 4-inch pots for 6 weeksutilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatures weremaintained at approximately 70° F. to 77° F. (21° C. to 25° C.) duringthe day and approximately 65° F. to 68° F. (18° C. to 20° C.) during thenight. Greenhouse light levels of 2,500 footcandles to 6,000 footcandleswere maintained during the day. Measurements and numerical valuesrepresent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Impatiens walleriana cultivar Balbonicher.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Impatiens walleriana breeding            selection coded 5446c-1, not patented.        -   Male parent.—Proprietary Impatiens walleriana breeding            selection coded 5418-2, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 5 to 8 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 14 to 21            days.        -   Root description.—Fibrous.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant Description:    -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 5 to 7 weeks from a            rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous,            compact-mounded growth habit.        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 10.5 cm. Width: Approximately 18.5 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching. Quantity of main branches            per plant: Approximately 4.        -   Branch.—Strength: Moderately strong. Length: Approximately            5.0 cm. Diameter at central internode: Approximately 4.0 mm.            Length of central internode: Approximately 1.1 cm. Texture:            Glabrous. Color of young and mature stems: 146D with streaks            of 187B; streaks wider at the node regions.-   Foliage Description:    -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:            Approximately 8. Fragrance: None. Form: Simple. Arrangement:            Alternate.        -   Leaves.—Aspect: Acute angle to stem, becoming perpendicular            with age. Shape: Elliptic to broadly elliptic. Margin:            Crenate, ciliate. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Venation            pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf at center of stem:            Approximately 6.5 cm. Width of mature leaf at center of            stem: Approximately 4.1 cm. Texture of upper surface:            Sparsely pubescent. Texture of lower surface: Glabrous.            Color of upper surface of young foliage: Closest to 139A            with venation of 137B. Color of lower surface of young and            mature foliage: Closest to 138B with irregular areas of 187B            and venation of 138A. Color of upper surface of mature            foliage: Closest to 137A mixed with 139A, venation of 137B.        -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 3.0 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 147D with            faint streaks of 187B.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balbonicher’ is freely flowering under            outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous            blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in            greenhouse environment.        -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately            6 to 7 days.-   Flower Description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Double. Quantity per plant:            Approximately 7. Fragrance: None.        -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 2 to 3 days for bud to            progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity            showing color per plant: Approximately 10.        -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Ovoid. Length: Approximately            1.2 cm. Diameter: Approximately 1.0 cm. Color: 36B.        -   Corolla.—Shape: Hemispherical. Width: Approximately 5.1 cm.            Depth: Approximately 3.2 cm. Borne: Above and below the            foliage.        -   Petals.—Quantity: 55. Shape: Obovate; innermost ovate.            Aspect: Flat. Appearance: Iridescent. Margin: Entire. Apex:            Obtuse. Base: Attenuate. Length of outermost petals:            Approximately 2.4 cm. Width of outermost petals:            Approximately 2.3 cm. Length of innermost petals:            Approximately 2.0 mm. Width of innermost petals:            Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:            Glabrous. Color of upper surface when first and fully open:            45B to 45C. Color of lower surface when first and fully            open: 37A with outermost having central stripe of NN155D.        -   Spur.—Quantity: 1 per flower. Length: Approximately 3.5 cm.            Diameter at proximal end: Approximately 2.0 mm. Diameter at            distal end: Less than 1.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 145C            with an overlay of 187C at tip.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Moderate. Aspect: Acute angle to stem.            Length: Approximately 3.8 cm. Diameter: Approximately            2.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 146D.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 4, with one fused to base of            upper petal, lower sepal typically not observed on            fully-opened flower. Shape of lateral sepals: Lanceolate.            Shape of lower sepal: Ovate. Apex of all sepals: Acute.            Length of lateral sepals: Approximately 3.0 mm. Width of            lateral sepals: Approximately 1.0 mm. Length of lower sepal:            Approximately 1.3 cm. Width of lower sepal: Approximately            1.0 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces of all sepals:            Glabrous, lower sepal papery. Color of upper and lower            surfaces of lateral sepals: 144A. Color of upper and lower            surfaces of lower sepal: Colorless.        -   Reproductive organs.—None observed.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests    common to Impatiens has not been observed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plantnamed ‘Balbonicher’, substantially as herein illustrated and described.